Quick release weight lifter belt

ABSTRACT

A support belt, particularly adapted for weight lifting users, includes a strap mounted to the main belt. A ratchet mechanism is mounted to one end of the strap. The other end of the strap is inserted through the ratchet mechanism and folded upon itself and secured to itself to form an anchor location. Another anchor location is a portion of the strap which is permanently secured to the belt. When the ratchet mechanism is operated the first end of the strap becomes wound on a take up reel in the ratchet mechanism to pull the two anchor locations toward each other and tighten the belt. In order to have a quick release of the belt the free end of the strap is detached from its engagement to itself so that its anchor location is thereby disengaged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In various sports, including weight lifting and power lifting, a waist belt is frequently worn to provide additional body support during the lifting. Conventionally such belts are made of a stiff and bendable material such as heavy leather. To maximize the support function the belts are usually tightened as much as possible. Commonly with conventional weight lifter belts the weight lifter asks for help in the tightening and buckling and in the loosening and unbuckling of the belts.

It has been suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,824 to improve upon such belts by using a ratchet in place of the common tightening structure such as buckles and the like. The advantage in the use of a ratchet is to provide the ability to have an incremental tightening of the belt. In addition, the tightening could be accomplished by the wearer without requiring help from another person. The '824 patent specifically discloses a belt wherein the ratchet mechanism is secured to a loop on the belt. A nylon strap is also secured to the outer surface of the belt. One end of the nylon strap is attached in a permanent manner to the ratchet mechanism. The other end of the nylon strap is the free end which extends through the ratchet mechanism. As a result when the ratchet mechanism is activated the “free end” is incrementally pulled through the ratchet mechanism to tighten the belt. When it is desired to loosen the belt the wearer pulls and holds a loosening mechanism which is part of the ratchet mechanism and grasps the ratchet handle and fully opens it so that the free end of the nylon strap can be pulled out of the nylon strap tightening mechanism.

While the '824 patent suggests marked improvements over conventional weightlifter belts it would also be desirable if such a belt could operate to provide a quick release without having to immediately manipulate various parts of the ratchet mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a weight lifter support belt which has the capability of giving quick release.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a belt which can be quickly released by a single pulling action without requiring manipulating a ratchet mechanism.

In accordance with this invention the support belt comprises a stiff and bendable main belt which has a length adjusting strap secured to its outer surface. The area of securement is a first anchor location which is between both ends of the strap. One end of the length adjusting strap is mounted on a take up reel in a ratchet mechanism. The other or free end of the adjusting strap wraps around a rod in the ratchet mechanism and folds upon itself so as to be anchored at a location spaced from the first anchor location. The ratchet mechanism and the first end of the strap are thereby between the two anchor locations. When the ratchet mechanism is activated the two anchor locations are pulled toward each other to tighten the belt. When it is desired to release the belt a quick release can be achieved by unfastening the free end of the strap at its anchor location to permit the free end to become loose around the ratchet mechanism rod and even be completely removed from the rod.

In a preferred practice of this invention the fastening structure which provides for the quick release is hook/loop structure on the two surfaces of the free end of the strap which are in contact with each other.

In a preferred practice of the invention the strap is secured directly and permanently to the belt in a generally central area which comprises less than ½ of the length of the belt thereby leaving unattached areas of substantial length on each side of the secured area. By mounting the first end of the strap to the ratchet mechanism, the strap itself is the structure for mounting the ratchet mechanism to the belt.

The Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a support belt in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the belt shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmental top plan view of the belt shown in FIGS. 1-2 with the ratchet mechanism in its fully open condition and partly broken away to show the strap attachment to the take up reel; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the belt shown in FIGS. 1-3, particularly illustrating the free end of the strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a support belt, particularly of the type that would be worn by a weight lifter. Broadly, however, the invention relates to support belts in general. The belt incorporates a ratchet mechanism to provide the wearer of the belt with the ability to incrementally tighten the belt without needing assistance from any other person. In addition, however, the belt incorporates quick release structure which would be particularly desirable under circumstance where the belt is too tight so as to be extremely uncomfortable. As a result, the wearer can quickly loosen the belt and relieve the over-tightness.

FIGS. 1-2 best illustrate the general structure for the support belt 10. As shown therein support belt 10 includes a main belt 12 as conventionally used in weight lifting. Belt 12 would be of sufficient length to encircle the general waist area of the wearer from a loose condition to a gradually tightening condition. Belt 12 would be made of any conventional material and generally is made of a thick leather which could be about 4 inches wide and up to one-half thick for competition, or even thicker. Thus, the leather is stiff enough to provide support yet is capable of bending in order to conform to the waist of the user and to also gradually increase or decrease in diameter when the ends of the belt are overlapped.

Main belt 12 has a first end 14 which overlaps its second end 16 as shown in FIGS. 2-3. See also FIG. 4. The degree of overlapping would depend upon the tightness of the belt around the waist of the user.

Attached to the outer surface of belt 12 is a width adjusting strap 18 which has a first end 20 and a second end 22. See FIG. 4. The width adjusting strap is secured, preferably permanently, to the main belt 12 in any suitable manner such as by being sewn at locations 24,26 spaced inwardly from both ends 20,22. In addition, further anchoring of strap 18 to main belt 12 could be accomplished by stitching along the upper and lower edges of the strap 18 directly to the main belt 12 between the locations 24 and 26. This general area of permanent attachment of strap 18 to main belt 12 may be considered as a first anchor location between first end 20 and second end 22. As a result, the strap 18 is disposed circumferentially at least partially around the outer surface of main belt 12.

An important feature of this invention is the incorporation of a ratchet mechanism generally indicated by reference numeral 28. Ratchet mechanism 28 may be of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,296, all of the details of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. In general, ratchet mechanism 28 includes a frame which comprises, in part, a pair of outer plates 30,30. A shaft 32 is connected across plates 30,30. Shaft 32 is of split construction as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 2-3. As a result, the first end 20 of strap 18 may be threaded through the split shaft 32 and then folded upon itself to create a loop 33 and is then permanently secured to itself at location 26. By mounting the ratchet mechanism 28 to free end 20 of strap 18 the strap 18 comprises the structure for mounting the ratchet mechanism to the main belt 12 unlike U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,824 where the ratchet mechanism is mounted to a loop which is distinct from the strap.

Ratchet mechanism 28 also includes a ratchet structure in the form of teeth 36 near each longitudinal end of shaft 32. A first pawl 38 is selectively engaged with teeth 36. Ratchet mechanism 28 also includes a handle 40 which rotates about shaft 32. Handle 40 includes a second pawl 42 on each side thereof for engagement with teeth 36. Second pawls 42 are jointly mounted as extensions of a plate 44 sliding in slot 46. See FIGS. 1 and 2. Pawls 42 are biased in the engaging position by springs 48 disposed against plate 44. See FIG. 1. When handle 40 is moved back and forth from the position shown in solid to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 2 shaft 32 rotates to wind the looped strap end 20 around shaft 32. Shaft 32 may thus be considered as a take up reel.

Ratchet mechanism 28 also includes a rod 50 extending across plates 30,30. The free end or second end 22 of strap 18 is wrapped around rod 50 and is folded back upon itself creating a loop 34. In the illustrated form of this invention free end 22 is formed by securing an outer piece or extension 52 to the remaining portion of strap 18. Any suitable form of attachment, such as the stitching in area 54 may be used for securing extension 52 to strap 18. The outer surface of strap 18, when strap 18 is in the unfolded condition shown in FIG. 4, includes detachable fastening structure 56 for engagement with complementary detachable fastening structure 56 on an inward portion of free end 22. The fastening structure 56 at the free end 22 of strap 18 could extend all the way, for example, to anchor location or fastening site 26 thereby giving a long length of adjustability in the tightening of belt 10. Suitable fastening structure could be the hook and loop formations from Velcro® or could be snaps or any other type of fastening structure. The particular fastening structure is preferably of a form which serves the dual function of providing a secure attachment of one portion of free end 22 to the inner portion of free end 22 when strip 52 is wrapped around rod 50 and strip 52 is then folded upon strap 18 to engage the free end 22 to itself. The second desired function is that such fastening structure should also be quickly releaseable. The hook and loop formations serve both functions.

FIG. 2 illustrates in phantom lines the free end 22 of strap 18 being wrapped around rod 50. FIG. 2 illustrates in solid lines the free end 22 then being secured to itself. This forms a second anchor location of belt 10 outwardly of loop 34. Since rod 50 is used as the structure for permitting the free end 22 to be folded upon itself, rod 50 may be considered as a direction changing rod.

In operation the belt in the open condition shown in FIG. 4 would be placed around the waist area of the user. The first end 14 of main belt 12 then overlaps the second end 16 of main belt 12. Free end 22 of strap 18 is wrapped around direction changing rod 50 and folded upon itself so that the fastening structures 56 are engaged to create a second anchor location. The first anchor location is the portion of strap 18 between ends 20 and 22 (i.e. between stitching locations 24 and 26) which is permanently secured to main belt 12. The ratchet mechanism 28 is between the two anchor locations. As handle 40 is then moved back and forth first end 20 of strap 18 is wound around shaft or take up reel 32 to move the two anchor locations toward each other and incrementally tighten the belt.

When it is desired to remove the belt, strap free end 22 is grasped at its extension 52 and pulled outwardly from the position shown in solid in FIG. 2 to the position shown in phantom. To facilitate the pulling the extreme end portion 58 of extension 52 may be made of a stiffened material biased outwardly. By pulling free end 22 outwardly the second anchor location is broken and the tension created by the ratchet mechanism is immediately released.

In order to return the strap toward its original condition handle 40 would be grasped by pressing outwardly extending tabs 60 of plate 44 to overcome the force of springs 48 thereby removing second pawls 42 from engagement with teeth 36. During the tightening operation the first pawls 38 ride over the inclined surfaces of teeth 36. In the reverse operation, however, it is necessary to withdraw first pawls 38 from engagement with teeth 36 to permit the wound up loop 33 of first end 20 of strap 18 to be loosened. To accomplish this disengagement of pawls 38 from teeth 36, handle 40 has a cam like outer portion 62 which (when handle 44 is rotated) presses against pawls 38 to push pawls 38 outwardly away from teeth 36. Belt 10 is thereby returned to its original condition ready for use again on the wearer.

The above described procedure for placing the ratchet mechanism 28 in its reverse direction may be used particularly where the belt has not been tightened by rotation of the teeth 36 more than a predetermined number of sets of teeth 36, such as three sets of teeth along the circumference. Such procedure is the type of procedure used in known ratchet mechanisms. Although the ratchet mechanism that may be used with this invention is generally along the lines of U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,296, the ratchet mechanism specifically preferred with this invention includes a convenient modification. In that regard, the second pawls 42 are shaved off or ground down rather than including stop structure. As a result, when the handle 44 is rotated to tighten the belt 10 the pawls 42 progressively enter into and are removed from corresponding sets of teeth 36 as the teeth rotate. In accordance with this invention when the rotation has been such that three sets of teeth 36 are engaged and disengaged from the pawls 42,42 the next rotation disposes the pawls 42 against the cam portion 62. Continued rotation results in the cam portion 62 pushing the pawls outwardly to force the plate 44 to compress the springs 48 thereby automatically placing the ratchet mechanism 28 in its reverse or untightening direction. As a result, the simple manipulation of the handle 44 automatically causes the ratchet mechanism to assume a reverse or untightening condition without the necessity of pressing against tabs 60 on plate 44. In the illustrated practice of this invention the ratchet mechanism is converted to its reverse direction automatically after three sets of teeth have been engaged. By proper dimensioning, however, any other number of teeth can be used before the automatic reversal of direction takes place.

Given the teachings and guidelines of the present invention the support belt 10 may be made of materials and of dimensions within the concepts of this invention. For example, while free end 22 is illustrated as including a strip or extension 52 attached to the remainder of the free end, the entire free end may be of one piece. It is preferred that the permanently anchored portion of strap 18 between the stitched areas 24 and 26 should comprise a significant, yet not a major portion of the strap and preferably would occupy a portion of less than one-half of the belt length thereby leaving a significant unattached portion on each side of the permanently attached portion.

Main belt 12 may be of any suitable width and thickness and may of any suitable length as is conventionally practiced in the art. For example, where main belt 12 is about 41 inches long the attached portion of strap 18 between stitched areas 24 and 26 would be about 20 inches long. The first end 20 of strap 18 would extend from stitched location 26 to the transverse edge of the first end of main belt 12 over a length of about 15 inches. The second end 22 of strap 18 would extend from stitched or anchor portion 24 beyond the second end 16 of main belt 12 over a length of about 9 inches of the main belt length. The length of strap 18 could be, for example, about 66 inches long with the intermediate attached length being about 20 inches long, with the second end 22 being about 22 inches long and with the first end 20 before being in a looped condition being about 24 inches long. When in the looped condition the loop 33 may be about 12 inches long before being tightened. Preferably, first end 14 of main belt 12 occupies about 15-35% of the length of the main belt and more preferably about 25-35% and most preferably about 30%. The unattached portion of second end 16 of main belt 12 occupies about 15% to 35% of the length of the belt and more preferably about 20-25% and most preferably about 22%.

Although the invention is preferably practiced with quick release fastening structure which secures free end 22 to itself, the invention could be practiced where other types of fastening structures are used (such as snaps) in cases where quick release is not an important consideration.

It is also to be understood that while the present invention incorporates the known ratchet mechanism, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,296, other forms of ratchet mechanisms could be used. What is intended is to provide a tightening mechanism which would incrementally tighten the belt on the wearer, preferably with the wearer being able to accomplish the tightening without needing assistance from another person. A ratchet mechanism fulfills these functions.

Other variations of the invention may be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when given the teachings and guidelines herein. 

1. A support belt comprising a stiff and bendable main belt for encircling a wearer, said main belt having an outer surface and a first end and a second end, a width adjusting strap having a first end and a second end, said width adjusting strap being secured to said outer surface of said main belt at a first anchor location between said first end and said second end of said strap whereby said strap is disposed circumferentially at least partially around said outer surface of said main belt, a ratchet mechanism, said ratchet mechanism including a take up reel, said first end of said strap secured to said reel to mount said ratchet mechanism to said main belt, a ratchet/pawl assembly mounted to said reel for incrementally rotating said reel and winding said strap around said reel, a handle for activating said ratchet/pawl mechanism to move in a winding direction, a direction changing rod, said second end of said strap being positionable to loop around said rod and being bent back upon itself, fastening structure on said second end of said strap to secure said strap in its bent back condition to create a second anchor location remote from said first anchor location with said ratchet mechanism being between said first anchor location and said second anchor location whereby the winding of said strap on said reel causes said first anchor location and said second anchor location to move toward each other and to make said second end of said strap taught and to thereby tighten said belt, and said fastening structure detachably maintaining said second end of said strap in said bent back condition whereby the anchoring condition of said second end of said strap at said second anchoring location may be disengaged to loosen the taut condition of said second end of said strap and thereby reduce the tightness of said belt.
 2. The belt of claim 1 wherein said ratchet mechanism includes structure for moving said ratchet mechanism in an unwinding direction.
 3. The belt of claim 2 wherein said second end of said strap is capable of being completely removed from said rod when said fastening structure is disengaged.
 4. The belt of claim 3 wherein said fastening structure is quick release fastening structure.
 5. The belt of claim 4 wherein said quick release fastening structure is hook/loop structure.
 6. The belt of claim 5 wherein said ratchet mechanism includes a frame having a pair of generally parallel plates, said reel extending across said plates, and said rod extending across said plates spaced from said reel.
 7. The belt of claim 6 wherein said ratchet mechanism includes a handle pivotally mounted to said frame, said handle having an end which extends outwardly of said rod when said handle is rotated toward said frame, and said handle including structure for disengaging said ratchet mechanism to permit said ratchet mechanism to be moved in an unwinding direction.
 8. The belt of claim 7 wherein the engagement of said first end of said strap with said reel comprises the mounting structure for mounting said ratchet to said main belt.
 9. The belt of claim 8 wherein said first end of said strap is threaded through said reel and folded upon itself and is secured to itself to create an elongated loop.
 10. The belt of claim 9 wherein said strap is permanently attached to said main belt between said first end and said second end of said strap over a length which comprises less than one-half the length of said belt, and each of said first end of said strap and said second end of said strap being unattached to said main belt over a substantial length of said main belt.
 11. The belt of claim 10 wherein the unattached length of said main belt at each of said first end and said second end of said strap comprises a length in the range of 15% to 35% of the length of said main belt.
 12. The belt of claim 11 wherein from 25% to 35% of the length of said first end of said main belt is unattached to said strap, and from 20% to 25% of said second end of said main belt is unattached to said strap.
 13. The belt of claim 12 wherein said fastening structure on said second end of said strap also is provided on the permanently anchored portion of said strap.
 14. The belt of claim 1 wherein said fastening structure is quick release fastening structure.
 15. The belt of claim 14 wherein said quick release fastening structure is hook/loop structure.
 16. The belt of claim 1 wherein said ratchet mechanism includes a frame having a pair of generally parallel plates, said reel extending across said plates, and said rod extending across said plates spaced from said reel.
 17. The belt of claim 1 wherein the securement of said strap to said reel comprises the mounting structure for mounting said ratchet mechanism to said main belt.
 18. The belt of claim 1 wherein said strap is permanently attached to said main belt between said first end and said second end of said strap over a length which comprises less than one-half the length of said belt, and each of said first end of said strap and said second end of said strap being unattached to said main belt over a substantial length of said main belt.
 19. The belt of claim 18 wherein the unattached length of said main belt at each of said first end and said second end of said strap comprises a length in the range of 15% to 35% of the length of said main belt.
 20. The belt of claim 2 wherein said structure for moving said ratchet mechanism in an unwinding direction changes said ratchet mechanism from being in its winding direction to said unwinding direction automatically upon the moving of said ratchet mechanism in said winding direction after a predetermined degree of movement.
 21. The belt of claim 20 wherein said structure for moving said ratchet mechanism in an unwinding direction includes at least one pawl mounted for selective engagement with and disengagement from a plurality of circumferentially arranged teeth, said teeth being rotatably mounted in an arcuate path, a cam mounted in said arcuate path and said cam moving said pawl to said unwinding direction when said pawl is contacted by said cam. 